Hers To Keep (Servite Academy #2)

Chapter 34

Chapter

Thirty-Four

SCARLETT

I woke up alone from my nap, with a deafening headache and just as exhausted as I was hours ago. I found Ace had stepped out and gone, who knows where, leaving me alone at the house, which I might say—although it is exactly what I wanted—left a feeling of emptiness inside of me. I hate that he left me here alone and vulnerable. What if Wesley realized he wasn’t finished with me? What if he’d realized I was too much of a liability and came back once and for all to end me?

I shot Ace a quick text letting him know I had left. Unlike me, the search party he’d send out to look for me was not worth the hassle. I told him I was safe and needed some space to sort out all the shit I had found out earlier that morning concerning my parents. He was reluctant to let me spend the day alone, you know because it’s my birthday and all, but I told him I was in no mood to celebrate, and I’d let him make it up to me later. I also may have mentioned I wouldn’t be alone, I’d be with the girls, even though I was planning on hiding away from them as well .

So I left the beach house and ran back to the safety of my bedroom at the Dahlia House and found Jade and Stella were just as insistent to not let me grovel and wallow in self-pity, but I swore I’d let them throw me a party if they just let me be.

Of course they believe it was just an argument I had with Ace that left me in this deplorable mood. I’m not ready to share the truth, not until I know all of it. So instead they immediately ran off to go plan my eighteenth birthday fiasco.

I know I’d soon regret it, but today is a new day. Today is the day I’m saying fuck it to everything I’ve previously believed. Nothing is as it seems, and everything has an explanation. Ace deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I’ve decided that the only way to make sure Wesley pays for everything he’s done, is to stand by Ace’s side and whatever scheme I’m sure he’s already concocted.

“Okay, I’m in!” I shout, marching up to Ace and the guys as they sit amongst their usual table in the courtyard. It’s once again Monday, and after spending my entire birthday in bed, I’m revitalized and ready for what’s coming.

I went to the dining hall with the girls earlier but snuck away after I finished eating and came down here to find the guys. For weeks now, since Ace and I first started dating officially, I’ve joined them at their table, but Jade and Stella refuse to come with me, saying they can’t leave Drake and the guys alone.

It makes sense since Carrington, and the girls are still hanging around here. I guess I’ve just become uninteresting or off-limits to them. Either that or with everything else going on I’ve finally learned to ignore them. I move toward Ace as the guys look over at me.

“Tell me what we have to do.” He looks confused for a moment before standing and tugging my arm, leading me away from the rest of the Horsemen and their equally bemused looks.

“We can’t be talking about this in front of them,” he mutters under his breath, turning anxiously to make sure no one hears us. The guys stand leaning against the bench watching us as we speak, clearly not trusting of whatever it is we’re up to. I’m not exactly here because they’ve accepted me. I’m here because their king has declared it that way, and who are they to speak against him.

Looking from them back to Ace, I raise my eyebrows in question.

“You’re keeping secrets from them?” I ask rather loudly, but he quickly brings a finger to my mouth in a shushing motion pushing me back against the pillar of the gazebo we’re under.

His large body hovers over me, suffocating me with his intoxicating scent. Of course he looks like a fucking wet dream dressed in only his black pants and white button-up shirt halfway unbuttoned exposing his tattoos that make me so fucking wet. God, I’m a sucker for him, but I mean, can you blame me? His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and his tie does nothing but loosely hang around his neck in decoration.

I look down as his silver cross chain blinds me. The sunlight reflects off of it and into my eyes. I reach out and grab it, but he quickly pulls it away, tucking it into the back of his shirt.

“I thought they were your boys, you know the Four Horsemen, loyal to you and all that shit you spew?” I ask sarcastically, running my hand under his shirt and over his delectable chest. I lick my lips and his eyes move down to my mouth as a groan escapes him.

He curses under his breath as his eyes lift back to mine. “Most are,” he says, looking back toward the guys behind us. Bass and Beckett have gone back to whatever boring conversation they were having, but Alek’s eyes remain focused on Ace and me. His eyebrows crease as his irritated frown directed at me deepens. Then it dawns on me. Alek is the most arrogant and patronizing of the four. He thrives in this world he was born into. Ace must still believe him to be loyal to Wesley to join the cause.

“Ahh, Alek,” I say, realizing his reluctance to give away our plan.

Ace pulls me further away from them after noticing Alek glaring keenly toward us. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

“Yeah, I’d be reluctant too. He sure as hell doesn’t like me, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d snitch us out just to get rid of me,” I scoff, moving to stand under the shade of a large tree in the middle of the walkway.

He struts over to me, placing his hands above me on either side of my head, his lips coming close to whisper against me. I can smell the spearmint scent of the gum in his mouth as he speaks.

“He won’t, he knows better than to go against me, against us, his brothers. I’ve brought Bass in, told him I’m bringing my Uncle Wesley and his corrupt empire down. Destroying it brick by brick until there is nothing left but the ashes of his once perilous domain. Beck will follow as well, but Alek, he might take a bit more convincing. I’m working on it, the guys and I will get him on board this week.”

I roll my eyes, unaware I’m doing so, only reminded I am by the angry growl that escapes him. “Well, either way, I’ve decided. I might regret this later, actually I’m almost one hundred percent sure I’ll regret this later, but I’m going to foolishly trust you.”

I step forward, my back no longer against the tree bark as my chest collides with his. My arms come to rest behind his neck as I pull him down to me, and he lets me, watching me impassively wondering what I’m about to say next, needing to hear what I’m about to say. The nervous look in his eyes makes me smile slightly. The declaration he made to me has been swirling around in my mind since the words left his mouth. At this very moment, I feel it in the depths of my soul.

“You were right, Ace. I love you, and although it may be stupid of me and I’ll probably end up worse off than I am, I’m done being scared. I’m done feeling guilty for what I feel. I’m willing to trust you if you help me bring him down.” An honest to God, ear to ear grin, displaying those gorgeous dimples, appears on his face as he swoops me up and spins me around.

He kisses me on the forehead, bringing his lips down to my mouth as he whispers against them. “I promise you I will not fail you. Everything in my life, all the training and sacrifices, they’ve all led up to this very moment. This is our reckoning, baby. What happens when an angel and a devil come together for the same cause?” I shake my head unsure of what he’s getting at. “Utter fucking chaos.”

“Tell me again, why I agreed to let you throw me a fucking birthday party?” I groan, as I squint watching the scene play out before me. The beach house is buzzing with my classmates from the academy, ones I definitely would have never invited myself. I guess when word spread about a party at the Servite’s beach house, there was no stopping them. Even if the party was mine.

“Because you skipped out on your actual birthday,” Stella states, as if the answer isn’t an obvious one.

“I don’t recall such a thing,” I sneer, grabbing another drink from the bar beside us. “I thought I agreed to a small get together, like just us having pizza or something, not the entire fucking school, whom I hate by the way.” I roll my eyes as we head back over to the table we’ve claimed for the night, obviously as far away from everyone as possible.

“You know a party here at Servite Academy isn’t ever anything other than grandiose,” Stella adds, shrugging her shoulders. “Especially when the Horsemen are throwing them. The boys have been sort of MIA, well Ace definitely has these past few weeks. I guess everyone wanted to make sure their kings were alive and well, and still in control, you know.”

“Yeah, yeah, well cheers to getting blackout wasted so I don’t have to deal with the fucking glares these pricks throw my way. Especially since I’m the one keeping their king otherwise occupied.” She smiles, raising her glass to me while I look around the room for my sister. “Where the fuck is Jade? This whole thing was her idea. Kind of rude of her to not fucking show.”

Though just as I say her name, Jade waltzes in through the front door looking as sexy as always in low rise, acid wash jeans and an off the shoulder, long-sleeved crop top in the color turquoise. What shocks me isn’t that she looks fucking gorgeous as always, but the stunner she has hanging on her arm.

Liam Fucking Walker.

“Oh shit, looks like she finally gave him a shot,” Stella squeals as we watch them approach us. Liam looks every part the Jock Captain he is, wearing dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and his letterman jacket, while Jade looks every bit the grunge rebel child with her leather combat boots and matching choker necklace. The crowd around us watches them intently, the chicks crazy jealous of her place on Liam’s arm as well as how fucking good she looks, while the guys would do anything to replace him at her side.

I shake my head teasingly as they walk up to our table. “Well, if it isn’t my darling sister,” she says, her voice has its usual flirtatious ring as she playfully runs her free hand up and down Liam’s bicep. “Happy birthday again, bitch! This time you’re letting me celebrate you.” She moves away from her place under his arm long enough to wrap her arms around my neck, embracing me in a suffocating hug.

God, I missed her.

“Let go of me, Jade,” I say, trying to sneak out of her hold. “You know I hate hugging, like honest to God hate it.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she sneers, letting me go.

“Happy Birthday, Scarlett,” Liam says, reaching for a hug as well. I decide against pushing him away since I know he’s just trying to be nice. He pulls back smiling, his blond hair long and shaggy, falling over one eye, and his perfectly tanned skin practically glowing under the light of the living room. He’s honestly cute, in that boy-next-door way. Definitely someone Jade could use in her life. I know deep down inside, although she tries to deny it, to fight against it every chance she gets, she might have feelings for Sebastian. But reliable and kindhearted Liam is exactly the type of man she needs.

Speaking of, Ace and the guys have yet to come around. He texted me earlier today saying they had some things to take care of before coming down to the beach. We are preparing phase one of our “Take Down Wesley Servite” plan, and to do so we needed a distraction. Ace feels Alek has been secretly telling Wesley about our impromptu meetings and planning sessions, so we’ve planned the party as a distraction. This way the four of us getting together doesn’t seem all that odd.

“Happy Birthday, gorgeous,” Ace whispers against my neck as he comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. My heart flutters as my head falls back toward him, my neck opening wider for him to run his lips against it as he speaks. “Tonight, baby, I’m going to fuck you so fucking hard, it’s going to put all my last performances to shame.” He continues to run kisses down my neck biting across my collarbone, licking at the gap of skin underneath it, and I’m fucking wet in an instant reaching back to grip his biceps.

“Mmm, baby,” I moan, quiet enough only he can hear me. “What are we waiting for, clear the fucking room.”

“All in good time, baby, we have work to do first.” He turns me around, placing a soft kiss upon my lips as someone clears their throat beside us. I roll my eyes, turning and watching as Sebastian scowls heatedly toward Jade at Liam’s side. Well, this is about to get interesting.

“Well hello there, Sebastian,” Jade coos, sneaking back under Liam’s arm. Standing together they look like Grunge Barbie and Jock Ken, a gorgeously perfect couple compared to Jade at Bass’s side looking like Grunge Barbie and Cutthroat Ken. I clearly hear an animalistic growl come from deep within Bass as his face shifts from furious to fucking fuming as he watches my sister with Liam.

All the while, Liam stands completely oblivious to what Jade’s trying to do with him, which I imagine is trying to make Sebastian jealous or show him he has no hold over her. Either way, this won’t end well.

“Pleasure as always, Wolfe,” he growls back at her, surprisingly not playing into the game she’s trying to play. He turns to me muttering “Happy Birthday” under his breath as he stalks away from us heading upstairs.

Beck comes up beside me, placing a hand upon my shoulder and her whispers so quietly so only I can hear. “Happy Birthday, love. To many more glorious years at this fucker’s side. Good luck,” he says with a wink before walking off and following Bass.

“Meet us upstairs in my room in thirty minutes. We have something we need to go over with you,” Ace whispers in my ear before moving his lips over to mine. He kisses me softly, taking his time playfully tugging at my bottom lip before biting down and sending a shock of desire to my core. His hands move across my body feeling every inch of me as his mouth moves faster against mine.

God, the shit this man makes me feel should be illegal. I lose all sense of right and wrong when I’m with him, giving in to temptation and falling victim to my innermost desires. It’s dangerous. A wanton sinner who tastes the forbidden fruit of evil and has no intention of ever eating anything else again. No wonder Eve ate the fucking apple, if it looked this good, I’d swallow it down in one fucking bite.

He leaves me, walking away slowly and heading up where the guys have gone to hide out from their own followers. The glares are instant the moment Ace disappears upstairs, showing every bit of the hatred these people here feel for me. Like I’m the one to blame for their king’s reluctance to rule. I guess I am.

After exactly thirty minutes, I’m finally able to sneak away Stella and Jade to head upstairs to Ace’s bedroom where he’s asked me to meet him. I enter the room, without knocking as they are obviously awaiting my arrival, and find the three of them huddled around the room, unreadable expressions on their faces as they watch me enter.

Ace approaches and moves behind me to close the door and lock it before speaking. “We’re heading out to the cabin next Saturday, you and me alone.” Okay getting right to it I see. “We’re working on sending Wesley another message, from his blackmailer. This one will let him know we’ll be there planning something against him.” My eyes must give away my reaction to his statement as he reaches for me tenderly tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “The guys will be nearby if we need them, or if my uncle decides he needs them, they’ll comply with whatever he says. We have to keep up the appearance of being his loyal soldiers. It’s the only way this will work.”

It takes a moment for me to speak, as I process all the information he’s given me. Their eyes never once leave mine as they watch me, awaiting my response. I can’t tell if the scowls upon Bass and Beck’s faces are because of what they must do, or that they must do it to protect me.

“What if he does something to you? I won’t be able to stand it if something happens to you because of his vendetta against me,” I say, and he smiles softly, placing a kiss upon my forehead and bringing my chin up to meet him.

“I will do anything and everything to make sure you are safe. If that means sacrificing myself, then that’s what I’ll fucking do.” He continues to speak, telling me the first part of his plan is to lure Wesley away from The Gallows, so they can sneak in and look for the ledger of clients. That is our ticket to bringing him down.

Everything about his illicit businesses begins and ends with The Gallows, and that’s the first one I want to destroy.